Polyester-based green renewable eco-composites by solar energy tube processing: characterization and assessment of properties

A solar energy tube was used for the processing of banana fiber (BF), which is employed as filler in polycaprolactone-based green composites. The composite was made by melt-blending acrylic acid-grafted polycaprolactone (PCL-g-AA) with a coupling agent-treated banana fiber (TBF). To improve the interface adhesion of the PCL/BF composites, acrylic acid was used as a stabilizer for the blending of PCL and TBF. The water resistance of PCL-g-AA/TBF was greater than that of PCL/BF and a cytocompatibility evaluation with human foreskin fibroblasts (FBs) indicated that both materials were nontoxic. The results from the FB proliferation assays indicated a higher cytocompatibility of the PCL/BF composites than of the PCL-g-AA/TBF composites. The cell-cycle test of FBs on PCL/BF and PCL-g-AA/TBF composites were not affected by the DNA content related to damage. Moreover, both BF and TBF enhanced the polysaccharide content and antioxidant properties of the composites, demonstrating the potential of PCL/BF and PCL-g-AA/TBF composites for biomedical material applications.